As Lemonis worked to sweep up Crumbs, someone tried to torch Seminole Club

Marcus Lemonis has closed on the former Seminole Club downtown and plans to start work this week to turn it into Sweet Pete’s. Not only that, but news broke Thursday afternoon that Lemonis is buying into Crumbs Bake Shop, a New York-based cupcake chain that closed Monday.

He said he plans to incorporate Sweet Pete’s, the Jacksonville candy store, into the Crumbs brand.

But he’s already gotten this surprise at the Seminole Club: Someone tried to set it on fire.

According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, someone wadded up paper at the front door Tuesday night and set it on fire.

“That’s a wood building,” Lemonis said. “If it had caught on the rug inside, it would have been torched.”

Fortunately, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue were alerted and got there before any damage was done other than to the door.

In sale finalized last week and filed Wednesday, Lemonis’ Jax Club Property LLC bought the 21,683-square-feet building on Hogan Street. The deed lists the price as $10, Lemonis would not say what he paid only that he would have a total investment of $2 million by the time it’s completed.

The building had been listed at $855,000.

In addition to Sweet Pete’s candy factory and store, which will move from Pearl Street in Springfield, Lemonis said the store will also feature several of his other investments: Matt’s Cookies, Wicked Good Cupcakes, Pie King and Keyport Creamery.

The Candy Apple restaurant replaces the original plans for Rose’s, a gluten-free restaurant.

Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises and star of CNBC’s “The Profit,” said Thursday morning that there could also be one more tenant, but that the news on that wouldn’t break until later in the day. Then came the announcement on CNBC: Lemonis is part of an investment group that is providing financing to Crumbs Bake Shop.

The New York chain was at the forefront of the gourmet cupcake explosion and had grown to 48 stores in 10 states before it closed its doors Monday.

Lemonis told the Los Angeles Times that Crumbs’ major downfall was selling only one dessert – gigantic, expensive, 600-calorie cupcakes. He plans to infuse other sweets, coffee. He said he wants to incorporate Sweet Pete’s candy and his other brands into a new Crumbs entity.